A-Q three-handed against leaderboard player with chip lead

**Chipless Wonder** · 08-19-2008 12:33 PM

I managed to get myself into a very tough spot in an online tournament last night...

$75 45-person SNG and we're down to three players:

KevinBlackwood - 34,000 chips - an excellent MTT player ranked 99.93% on OPR, and a top 20 leaderboard player on Sharkscope, has already earned $31K in profit online during 2008

Chipless Wonder - 28,000 chips - just me

bagelboy55 - 5,500 chips - ranked 96.60% on OPR, but very short-stacked and will probably be gone within the next few minutes

Obviously, Kevin and I were trying to steer clear of each other, and we were waiting for the inevitable bounce of bagelboy before we started attacking. Then this hand came up...

With blinds of 500/1,000, Kevin raised to 3,000 from the button. Bagelboy folded, and I would normally have folded here too, but instead I decided to see a flop with:

There were 6,500 chips in the pot and the flop came:

I checked and he led out for 4,500 chips. I called and there were 15,500 chips in the pot. The turn was:

I checked, hoping he would check it down from here, but he bet 6,000 chips. What does he have, and what should I do in this spot?

**wreaks** · 08-19-2008 12:41 PM

Pretty much a dream situation 3-handed, as far as the flop is concerned. I think the two of you might have the same hand tbh... I'd shove the turn. He doesn't want to get a super short stack either so he might fold AQ to you here.

With AQ 3 handed it's either fold PF or take it all the way when it hits like this. I would have liked to see you reraise PF to see if he was position/big-stack raising, but as it's played (call PF, call the flop) you should be willing to take it all the way.

**stackinsideways** · 08-19-2008 12:55 PM

I dont like this spot much at all...

too many things to consider and and way too wide a of a range that he could be on...

I dont think Im flat calling pre...

Im either avoiding the situation or taking control of it...

I know for a fact Im not flat calling that flop...

If I am playing AQ here I cant hope for more than what just came...

but since you have done all this and now 1/3 yer stack is in the pot...

Im pushing...

you really havent left yerself with much choice here...

but I wouldnt be shocked if you just let him back into 2 pair with A10 or if he turned the set...

Im just not letting him take total control of this tourny when Im this strong 3 handed...

yer hear for the win...

push already

**D-Nut** · 08-19-2008 01:06 PM

Scott, you are playing like me.....

The Scott I know is playing for wins (like Cory said) and would have either shoved preflop or check raised all-in on the flop.

You are very good at manipulating players on the bubble and taking advantage of people trying to cash or move up another rung on the payscale.

You say that the player in this hand is a VERY competent player who is probably doing exactly what you preach to me all too often. You played this very passively like you were trying to just get heads up with this guy.....when you should be doing the exact opposite.

You have to get it all-in here (even on the turn as played in my opinion)......and if you are beat 3 handed with this hand, so be it.

**niner1984** · 08-19-2008 02:17 PM

this is a really good player . in my opinion the have ace queen beat here at leats 90 percent of the time. You are a great heads up player so get the chips back in that spot

i repeat i fold fold fold

**Chipless Wonder** · 08-19-2008 08:12 PM

this is a really good player . in my opinion the have ace queen beat here at leats 90 percent of the time.

George hit the nail on the head as usual. I raised all-in and my opponent called with A-K.

I wasn't happy with how I played this hand, but in retrospect, I don't see how all our chips weren't getting into the middle at some point after this flop.

**otbdave** · 08-19-2008 08:31 PM

AQ v AK 3 handed is a cooler.

To me how good the guy is is not much of a factor because Scott played his hand so odd it is not like this guy can possibly know what Scott has here no matter how good he is. I probably 3bet pre and seriously consider folding to a push pre. Post flop I hire a bulldozer to push in my chips.

**otbdave** · 08-19-2008 08:32 PM

You don't wait for top top+ 3 handed no matter how good your opponent is. If you are looking for a better spot than this your folding range is too wide.

I don't understand how in the world he can have AQ beat 90% of the time when only 3 hands in his range are even possible to be worried about, AK, A10, and 1010. All of this against a cold call preflop, check call flop player???? As played easy push, unlucky.

**Chipless Wonder** · 08-19-2008 09:38 PM

Well, if things work out, it looks like I might get another chance to face Mr. Blackwood heads up. We're in the same tournament again right now, and there are only 12 players remaining.

Unfortunately, neither of us has many chips. I'm in 11th place and he's in 12th.